]]>We go over the entire schedule! BREAKING NEWS!!! The 2001-02 @sacramentokings are heading to #NBA2K18 as one of the 16 NEW classic teams ft. Chris Webber and Mike Bibby! Join the conversation RIGHT NOW! Make your voice heard!

If you are looking for NBA Autographs, NBA Memorabilia, or NBA Trading Cards, HoopCats.com has it all! They also do giveaways on their Instagram page all the time so follow them to keep up! You can also visit their online store for more information: http://stores.ebay.com/TheHoopCats

Make sure to download the Valley Tire Center mobile app, register and turn on your notifications to get free tire balancing. Check our their website for details: http://www.valleytirewoodland.com/

POWERHANDZ are performance-enhancing sports gloves and athletic training products innovatively designed to both strengthen hand and arm muscles and intensify players’ dexterity. That is why THE CK TEAM uses them! WILL YOU TAKE YOUR GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL? Visit Powerhandz.com for more information.

wimZr is a mobile application that allows people to connect days, weeks, even months prior to arriving at music festivals, travel destinations, sporting events, business conferences, and so much more worldwide! Click here for more information: https://wimzr.com/

]]>“The Carter Effect” will premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival and is UNINTERRUPTED’s second documentary directed by Sean Menard and is Executive Produced by: LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Drake and Adel Future Nur.

In addition to eight-time NBA All-Star, Vince Carter, the film features: Toronto native and rapper, Drake, eight-time NBA All-Star and Canadian Steve Nash, former Toronto Raptors’ player, Charles Oakley, Toronto native and current Cleveland Cavaliers’ player, Tristan Thompson, former NBA commissioner David Stern, among many others.

]]>SACRAMENTO, CA —- The Sacramento Kings will host MVP finalist James Harden, nine-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets in their season opener from Golden 1 Center on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m..

For most Kings games this season, tip-off will return to the traditional 7 p.m. start time. Basketball fans have an opportunity to access pre-paid parking spots, ride public transportation and download the dual-mode Kings + Golden 1 Center app to enhance the game-day experience with on-demand information regarding parking and more.

The Kings will be featured on national television 12 times during the 2017-18 campaign, highlighted by a TNT Sports broadcast from Golden 1 Center as Sacramento plays host to DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, Oct. 26. Lonzo Ball and the L.A. Lakers visit on Wednesday, Nov. 22 for the first of three ESPN telecasts originating from Sacramento.

The other pair of ESPN matchups from Golden 1 Center include two-time MVP Stephen Curry and four-time scoring leader Kevin Durant as the 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors make the short trip down I-80 on Friday, Feb. 2, and a Pacific Division clash with the Portland Trail Blazers a week later on Friday, Feb. 9. Sacramento plays to a national audience on eight occasions delivered by NBA TV, showcasing home contests versus reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Nov. 7), Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves (Feb. 26) and an April Fools road installment with Ball and longtime rival Lakers (April 1).

Sacramento will play 20 of its first 33 contests on the road before returning to Golden 1 Center following the holidays. Marquee contests during this opening stanza include matchups against the Washington Wizards led by John Wall and Bradley Beal (Oct. 29), All-Stars Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward and the Boston Celtics (Nov. 1), Philadelphia 76ers starring No. 1 draft selections Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons alongside current Rookie of the Year Joel Embiid (Nov. 9), at Golden State Warriors (Nov. 27), a visit to face 4-time NBA MVP and 13-time All-Star LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 6), a rematch with Cousins and Davis in the Big Easy (Dec. 8) and perennial title-contending San Antonio Spurs led by 2016 MVP finalist Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and veteran addition Rudy Gay (Dec. 23).

The Kings usher in 2018 with a season-long six games at Golden 1 Center highlighted by dates versus the Cavaliers (Dec. 27), Memphis Grizzlies (Dec. 31), Denver Nuggets (Jan. 6) and Spurs (Jan. 8) before three consecutive games against Los Angeles teams (at Lakers on Jan. 9, home versus the Clippers on Jan. 11 and at the Clippers on Jan. 13) and a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at Oklahoma City (Jan. 15) caps the first half schedule.

A 12-day, six-game sojourn to the east coast with notable layovers in Memphis (Jan. 19), Miami (Jan. 25) and New Orleans (Jan. 30) yields to a quartet at Golden 1 Center with a home and home back-to-back set with the Warriors (Feb. 2) and Dallas Mavericks (Feb. 3) proceeded by visits from the Chicago Bulls (Feb. 5) and Pacific Division rival Portland Trail Blazers (Feb. 9). The docket goes dark for the annual All-Star break following a quick three-game road trip punctuated by a Texas two-step at Dallas (Feb. 13) and Houston (Feb. 14).

Sacramento winds down the regular season with a home heavy calendar during the spring months, playing 16 of its remaining 25 contests at Golden 1 Center. Westbrook and Paul George tip-off the post break slate in their second visit (Feb. 22), marking the first of eight home games from Feb. 22—Mar.9, interrupted only by a road contest at Portland (Feb. 27).

Keynote matchups include the Lakers (Feb. 24), Pelicans (Mar. 7), at Warriors (Mar. 16), Celtics (Mar. 25) and the regular season’s final meeting versus Golden State (Mar. 31). A four-game trip culminating in San Antonio concludes the road portion of Sacramento’s campaign before returning home, where the regular season ends just as it began with the Kings hosting Houston (April 11).

Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public in September. In the meantime, fans can sign up for access to an exclusive presale and win an opportunity to sit courtside by visiting Kings.com/Presale. Additionally, fans can secure seats now by committing to one of several exciting ticket plans featuring this season’s biggest matchups starting at just 10 games. More information is available at Kings.com/TicketPlans.

With today’s schedule announcement, the Kings also released an all-new ticket option that allows fans a standing room only pass for all 43 games at Golden 1 Center. The Standing Room Season Pass is $15 per game and limited plans are available now at Kings.com/StandingRoomSeasonPass.

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE SACRAMENTO KINGS 2017-18 SCHEDULE

By month, the schedule breaks down as follows: October (3 home, 4 away = 7 total), November (7 home, 7 away = 14 total), December (6 home, 9 away = 15 total), January (5 home, 9 away = 14 total), February (7 home, 4 away = 11 total), March (12 home, 4 away = 16 total), April (1 home, 4 away = 5 total). As part of league attempts to augment player rest, the Kings engage in two fewer back-to-back sets from a season ago, will not play four games in five nights (seven such scenarios last season) and suit up for five contests in a seven night stretch on only one occasion (reduced from three occurrences in 2016-17).

Of the team’s 16 back-to-back sets, two are of the home-home variety, seven are away-away, three represent the away-home category and four are home-away.

Sacramento’s 41-game home schedule features 17 weekend contests at Golden 1 Center (five games on Fridays, seven on Saturdays and five on Sundays).

The Kings tote a 23-9 mark in home openers during the Sacramento-era (1985-present), including a 15-4 record since 1998-99.

Houston outlasted the Kings 96-85 on Nov. 1, 1996—the only other instance during the Sacramento-era when both teams squared off in a season opener. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf paced the home team with 17 points while the Rockets were led by Clyde Drexler’s 25 points to accompany 13 rebounds from Hakeem Olajuwon.

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]]>Shaquille O’Neal apparently thinks Sacramento signed Otto Porterhttp://cowbellkingdom.com/shaquille-oneal-apparently-thinks-sacramento-signed-otto-porter/
Mon, 14 Aug 2017 22:00:55 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45644Otto Porter signed an offer sheet with the Nets, and the Wizards matched it. The Kings also reportedly offered Porter a max contract, but they never became part of an official transaction. Yet, Shaquille O’Neal – who owns a share of the Kings and regularly appears on national television to analyze the NBA – apparently […]

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]]>Can the Sacramento Kings become the world’s team in the near future?http://cowbellkingdom.com/can-the-sacramento-kings-become-the-worlds-team-in-the-near-future/
Mon, 14 Aug 2017 18:44:15 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45635It was Jan. 21, 2013, a somber day Kings fans will never forget, the day the Maloofs, former owners of the Sacramento Kings, agreed to sell the team to a Seattle group led by investor Chris Hansen. Word of this sale made waves throughout every local and national media outlet. It was a time of […]

]]>It was Jan. 21, 2013, a somber day Kings fans will never forget, the day the Maloofs, former owners of the Sacramento Kings, agreed to sell the team to a Seattle group led by investor Chris Hansen. Word of this sale made waves throughout every local and national media outlet.

It was a time of doubt and helplessness for anyone associated with the franchise or local community surrounding this once proud franchise.

“What now, what are we as a community without our Kings, this is just like how Seattle lost their team,” were some thoughts murmured by fans following the unofficial sale of the Kings to Hansen and his Seattle based group. All hope was lost.

That was the feeling until the NBA Board of Governors officially rejected a sale between the Maloofs and investor Chris Hansen by a vote of 22-8 on May 15, 2013. Utter shock would be an understatement to those following this story at the time.

By the pure heart and tenacity of people such as former Mayor Kevin Johnson, radio personality Carmichael Dave, others alike, and the amazing fan base in Sacramento, had pulled off one of the most unbelievable underdog stories in recent time.

“HERE WE STAY, HERE WE BUILD.”

May 28, 2013, marked the day the Sacramento Kings were sold to current owner Vivek Ranadive, the man who ended the conversation of whether the Kings would be leaving town for good.

From that point on, the Kings were finally left with some stability and a brand new state of the art arena in the heart of downtown Sacramento.

With Ranadive on board, came ties to India and an enormous NBA audience waiting for a chance to hop on an NBA franchise bandwagon. A completely untapped market that just hadn’t been given the opportunity.

Then came the hiring of Vlade Divac, former Sacramento King and current General Manager, in September of 2015. Originally from Serbia, he found his way as a player to the Sacramento Kings in 1998.

He was known for his smooth passing, high basketball IQ and leadership qualities. Divac led the Kings during their glory days in the early 2000’s and introduced his home country of Serbia what the NBA was all about.

A simple cowtown in the middle of California had an entire country in Serbia rooting them on every step of the way.

This was just the beginning as Peja Stojakovic, another former Sacramento King and current director of player personnel and development, was hired in August of 2015 to not only oversee player personnel, but also serve as General Manager for the Sacramento Kings’ G-League affiliate Reno Bighorns.

Stojakovic as Divac did, played for the Sacramento Kings during their glory days to help lead the Kings with that beautiful 3-point stroke and charismatic personality. He too is a Serbian native that helped open the eyes of all Serbians looking for a basketball outlet here in the NBA.

From the front office all the way down to the players were doors being opened up internationally that the NBA had never dreamed of during David Stern’s tenure where he promoted and advocated to expand the audiences globally.

Players being drafted internationally were continuing to grow each year and viewership on the national level was evident with Game 5 of the 2017 NBA finals having 50.6 million total viewers that reached 215 countries and 49 different languages, the most watched game ever in an NBA finals to date, according to ESPN.com.

With the likes of Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Tony Parker (France), Pau Gasol (Spain), Yao Ming (China), and Manu Ginoboli (Argentina) helping to lead the charge on a national stage, the NBA was ready to become a global enterprise.

Here in Sacramento, this international audience is quietly gaining traction as the Kings have effectively used the immediate resources available to them.

Ranadive was asked during the 2017 NBA All-Star game on having a basketball presence in India and had lots of good stuff to say.

“I think it’s really important for us to actually go and show India what a real NBA game looks like,” Ranadive told ESPN’s Thomas Neumann. “So my dream is to become the first team to actually play a game in India. Then we have to keep doing that.”

Ranadive has worked with other owners in the past to make this dream a reality and sees feasibility of a regular season game happening in India within the next couple of years, following the instituted format of playing two NBA exhibition games in China every year to help increase global viewership.

Before the 2016-2017 season began, the Kings had to align with their new state of the art arena by rebranding their logo and jerseys. One jersey in particular called the Global Uniform was made not only to symbolize the unparalleled community of Sacramento, but also to highlight the viewership of an international audience.

The Sacramento Kings didn’t stop there as the 2016-2017 season gave birth to the first ever Facebook live streamed game in India hosted by Vivek Ranadive and the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 9, 2017, as they took on the Golden State Warriors.

With the front office hiring’s of Divac and Stojakovic there has been a youth movement that included an eye for international talent particular from Europe in recent years because of their Serbian ties.

The current players on the Kings roster that are rooted internationally includes Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia), Buddy Hield (Bahamas), Skal Labissiere (Haiti), Georgios Papagiannis (Greece), and Kosta Koufos (Greece/USA). All of which were not only brought in under Divac’s reign as General Manager, but will play very vital roles to the success of the team.

As Doug Christie, former Sacramento King and current radio co-host with Grant Napear on Sports 1140 KHTK says, “Once you get a guy here, he realizes what Sacramento is all about and never wants to leave.”

Christie was referring to getting players to come to a small market like Sacramento and realizing what an awesome experience it is to live and play for the fans here in Sacramento.

The same applies to the four out of five international players on the current Kings roster who have experienced an NBA regular season here in Sacramento and are able to pass on their experiences to their home countries during the offseason.

Hield recently held his annual basketball camp in his homeland of the Bahamas in early August of 2017, something he looks forward to every year to teach boys and girls the fundamentals of basketball and provide an escape from the realities of everyday life.

“The passion for the NBA and game of basketball is very strong in the Caribbean,” Hield told Renaldo Dorsett of Tribune Sports. “Having the Basketball without Borders Americas in my home, the Bahamas, for the first time ever this July is a great way to continue to grow the game and help youth basketball development in the region.”

For the first time since high school and his amazing survival story of the Haiti earthquakes in 2010, Labissiere made his way back to his home country of Haiti hosting his first ever Camp S.K.A.L. clinic on July 19-21 to promote spiritual awareness, self-confidence and innovative thinking for the youth.

It was an emotional trip for Labissiere who said, “These were the best years of my life growing up,” as he passed his childhood home in Haiti.

Even for newly acquired players such as Bogdan Bogdanovic, there has been an outcry amongst Fenerbahce fans, Bogdanovic’s former Turkish club team, about him leaving after three amazing years with the team.

No one wanted to see him go but wished him the best and supported his decision to move overseas and play for the Sacramento Kings. Another audience there in Turkey and Serbia that will follow him wherever he establishes his career.

A structure is in place for the Sacramento Kings to truly take advantage of that international market and it all started back in 1998 with the frontiers of international basketball players in Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic.

From the front office, to the players and all the way down to its fans, the time has arrived to become a fully global team. If the Kings go to Seattle, who knows what would have happened or if there ever would have been an opportunity for international fans to root for the Kings.

If the Kings can get back on track in the wins column, they won’t only be Sacramento’s team, but the world’s team and that is something Ranadive dream’s of.

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]]>CK Podcast 302 and 303: Frank Mason and Zach Randolphhttp://cowbellkingdom.com/ck-podcast-302-303-frank-mason-zach-randolph/
Sat, 12 Aug 2017 18:15:23 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45630The CK team goes over the signing of Brandon Williams and what that means for the organization and Frank Mason III joins the show to talk about his basketball camp in Northern California and his expectations for the upcoming season. Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph was arrested late Wednesday night on a felony charge of […]

]]>The CK team goes over the signing of Brandon Williams and what that means for the organization and Frank Mason III joins the show to talk about his basketball camp in Northern California and his expectations for the upcoming season.

Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph was arrested late Wednesday night on a felony charge of marijuana possession with the intent to sell, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

If you are looking for NBA Autographs, NBA Memorabilia, or NBA Trading Cards, HoopCats.com has it all! They also do giveaways on their Instagram page all the time so follow them to keep up! You can also visit their online store for more information: http://stores.ebay.com/TheHoopCats

Make sure to download the Valley Tire Center mobile app, register and turn on your notifications to get free tire balancing. Check our their website for details: http://www.valleytirewoodland.com/

POWERHANDZ are performance-enhancing sports gloves and athletic training products innovatively designed to both strengthen hand and arm muscles and intensify players’ dexterity. That is why THE CK TEAM uses them! WILL YOU TAKE YOUR GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL? Visit Powerhandz.com for more information.

wimZr is a mobile application that allows people to connect days, weeks, even months prior to arriving at music festivals, travel destinations, sporting events, business conferences, and so much more worldwide! Click here for more information: https://wimzr.com/

Subscribe to our podcast

]]>Who will start at shooting guard for the 2017-18 Sacramento Kings?http://cowbellkingdom.com/who-will-start-at-shooting-guard-for-the-2017-18-sacramento-kings/
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:00:33 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45617Here we are in mid-August, a time where fans and experts alike twiddle our thumbs only to look forward to the latest Sunday episode of Game of Thrones, while we wait patiently for the next season of NBA basketball to begin. The older the offseason gets, the closer we get to actual basketball once again, […]

]]>Here we are in mid-August, a time where fans and experts alike twiddle our thumbs only to look forward to the latest Sunday episode of Game of Thrones, while we wait patiently for the next season of NBA basketball to begin.

The older the offseason gets, the closer we get to actual basketball once again, which means competition amongst players vying for a starting position on an NBA roster.

This competition is especially evident at the shooting guard position with the Sacramento Kings as they brought over 24-year-old Serbian guard, Bogdan Bogdanovic through a draft day trade with the Phoenix Suns in 2016. That also allowed Sacramento to draft Georgios Papagiannis and Skal Labissiere in that draft.

Ironically enough, Buddy Hield, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 draft by the New Orleans Pelicans was traded to the Sacramento Kings as a featured piece in the DeMarcus Cousins trade, which shocked the NBA world.

With these two young talented guards acquired via trade, the question to ask is who gets the starting nod?

Hield joined the Kings after the All-Star break and made his debut as a starter against the Wizards at the two-guard position. Hield was named rookie of the month twice and showed flashes of stardom throughout his first year in the league. But he also showed his lack of experience and protection of the ball in key situations.

Bogdanovic comes over to the NBA from Serbia after winning the 2016 Euroleague Championship for his Turkish club team Fenerbahce. Known for his 3-point shot, fiery tenacity, smart basketball IQ, and winning ways, he brings with him the experience and skill to thrive for his new Sacramento Kings.

The breakdowns are very similar in nature and at first look, Bogdanovic would get the starting shooting guard job merely based on last year’s statistics without taking anything else into consideration.

But as we dive deeper we realize that Hield played an entire 82 game season where in-game statistics can begin to even out over time compared to Bogdanovic that only played a 22-game season on a championship team in Fenerbahce filled with talent.

Both players bring something to the table that makes them special, but in the end it falls on Dave Joerger to make that tough decision on who should be starting. Coach Joerger is notorious for playing experience over youth but in this particular situation, they are both relatively young and can both score at an efficient rate.

Hield is a scorer that can make a play when he needs against the most elite players in the world, but needs to improve on not turning the ball over and playing with some fire on the defensive side of the ball.

Whereas Bogdanovic who can get the open shot and drill it from deep at any given moment against Euroleague competition, hasn’t played enough games against NBA defenders.

It may be tough to gage where Bogdanovic stands against NBA talent because he hasn’t played in a regular season game yet, but we got a demo in 2016 when Team USA took on the Serbians for Olympic Gold.

Bogdanovic impressed many people in the basketball world observing this game, and even though his seven points, three assists, and three rebounds stat line wasn’t that impressive, watching him take on the challenge left a lasting impression on everyone for what’s to come with consistent minutes at the NBA level.

While both players are still developing, but deserving of a starting role, it comes down to scheme, fit, and who wants to play a little defense.

Coach Joerger is a defensive-minded coach that loves to mix and match his lineups throwing the opposing team off their game plan.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities to see both players see some exposure in the starting lineup during the year. Who will play the better defense and mesh the best with the other players on the court? Only time will tell.

Final Prediction

-Both players are sharp shooters that can get into the paint when they need.

-Hield is careless with the ball at times and needs improvement on the defensive side of the ball.

-Bogdanovic doesn’t always make the right pass and will force shots that shouldn’t have been taken.

-Both players are young, have great attitudes and are itching to get better each and every day.

In the end, I see Hield getting the nod to begin the season as the starter for the 2017 Sacramento Kings, but don’t be shocked to see Bogdanovic making appearances in the starting lineup at the small forward position alongside Hield and company, while also getting significant amounts of time at the shooting guard position behind Hield.

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]]>Video: Kings’ Zach Randolph arrested for marijuana possessionhttp://cowbellkingdom.com/video-kings-zach-randolph-arrested-for-marijuana-possession/
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:19:37 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45609Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph was arrested late Wednesday night on a felony charge of marijuana possession with the intent to sell, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph was booked at 4:23 a.m. on Thursday and later released on $20,000 bail. He […]

]]>Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph was arrested late Wednesday night on a felony charge of marijuana possession with the intent to sell, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph was booked at 4:23 a.m. on Thursday and later released on $20,000 bail. He is due in court on Aug. 31.

The Kings said in a statement: “We are aware of the situation. We have no further comment at this time.”

The NBA prohibits players from using marijuana despite seven of its teams playing in states where it is legalized. Voters in California passed a ballot initiative last November to legalize possession of marijuana for recreational use.

However, that provision only cleared adults over the age of 21 to transport up to an ounce of the substance for non-medical purposes. Those with larger amounts face felony charges.

We will further discuss this on the CK Podcast LIVE on FB and 92.1 FM at 3:30 p.m. today! For now, here is a video we produced talking about the incident that happened last night. Join the conversation and voice your opinion!

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]]>CK Vlog #19: Topgolf, The Hangover’s Stu, and Kings Season Projectionshttp://cowbellkingdom.com/ck-vlog-19-topgolf-the-hangovers-stu-and-kings-season-projections/
Fri, 04 Aug 2017 18:34:48 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45603This Vlog was filmed August 2nd, which is one day before ESPN released their NBA season projections today. Did you agree with us or ESPN? Here is what they had to say in the article: 15. Sacramento Kings Projected wins: 27.4 Despite adding veterans Vince Carter, George Hill and Zach Randolph as free agents, the Kings are projected as the league’s second-worst […]

Despite adding veterans Vince Carter, George Hill and Zach Randolph as free agents, the Kings are projected as the league’s second-worst offensive attack by RPM. Although this isn’t part of the projection, few teams will have more incentive to improve their draft pick, as Sacramento won’t have its first-rounder in 2019 due to trade.

Here is the Vlog:

]]>Bogdan Bogdanovic might be the Kings’ best rookiehttp://cowbellkingdom.com/bogdan-bogdanovic-might-be-the-kings-best-rookie/
Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:43:56 +0000http://cowbellkingdom.com/?p=45596Sacramento had a good offseason. Not only did they cover the loss of Scott Perry in the front office with another strong hire in Brandon Williams, but the talent Vlade Divac has sought out has all had a purpose. When the Kings traded away DeMarcus Cousins at the deadline last season, Divac said that it […]

]]>Sacramento had a good offseason. Not only did they cover the loss of Scott Perry in the front office with another strong hire in Brandon Williams, but the talent Vlade Divac has sought out has all had a purpose.

When the Kings traded away DeMarcus Cousins at the deadline last season, Divac said that it was an effort to rebuild the team’s culture. Cousins had wreaked havoc in Sacramento’s locker room, and the team dynamic on the court was falling apart as a result. They needed a breath of fresh air, and that’s precisely what that trade yielded.

It’s what the Kings have done in lieu of that trade, however, that has led to such a positive evaluation of their team moving forward. All four of their draftees were picked for a reason, while their free agent additions followed the same trend.

Divac is legitimately stressing culture for the first time during his tenure as Sacramento’s general manager. De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason all went to top flight collegiate programs, where all four were lauded as high character individuals.

The youngster who they traded for in the Cousins trade — Buddy Hield — was thought of in a similar light entering last season’s draft.

On top of that, their free agency period yielded the signings of Vince Carter, Zach Randolph and George Hill. Carter and Randolph are two of the league’s most experienced entities at their position, while Hill gives them a highly productive veteran on a deal that won’t overlap with Fox’s timeline.

Every move had a reason, and every move was done in a manner that laid the foundation for success down the road, rather than inhibiting it.

Of all those positives, however, one move in particular is overlooked far too often — and that’s the addition of Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Bogdanovic was the 27th overall pick back in 2014, which set the bar far lower than where his developmental curve currently stands. If he was to be compared to the talents in the 2017 class, there’s a very real argument in favor of dubbing him the best international talent, rather than Frank Ntilikina.

Bogdanovic has enjoyed ample success during his time stashed overseas, playing a significant role offensively for one of the Euroleague’s most prestigious teams in Fenerbahce.

At 24 years of age, Bogdanovic averaged 14.6 points per game in 27.9 minutes, giving the team a dynamic perimeter scorer that, in many ways, helped spark what was inevitably a championship run for the Turkish club.

The Kings were able to convince Bogdanovic to make the leap this year, signing him to a three-year, $27 million deal. That’s the highest total ever given to a rookie, which speaks to just how badly Divac wanted Bogdanovic in Sacramento this upcoming season.

While there’s obvious value in high character players from top-flight schools, viewing Bogdanovic as anything less is shortsighted.

He was a key contributor to a premier professional franchise overseas, a far bigger burden to carry than the majority of the current Kings had to deal with.

He also played a significant role in Serbia’s success during the Rio Olympics, where they were silver medalists.

At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Bogdanovic’s length should afford him some much-needed flexibility in Sacramento’s rotations. He has operated as the main ball handler in the past, yet his frame and the focal points of his game are best suited on the wing.

That length, however, gives Sacramento the freedom to start Bogdanovic and Hield, rather than compromising one’s development for the other. Bogdanovic is capable of guarding bigger threes — or the opposition’s best perimeter threat — while Hield can stick to the smaller guards.

His offensive fit, however, is what’s most intriguing. Sacramento hasn’t really found it’s leading scorer moving forward. George Hill could very well carry that status for the next couple of seasons, but Bogdanovic has the talent needed to shoulder that load long term.

While many tend to view Hield as the prospective go-to scorer for this Kings squad, Bogdanovic has a combination of size and diversity that Hield doesn’t quite possess.

While Hield may have the quicker first step — which is undoubtedly important — Bogdanovic has more control, both as a scorer and as a playmaker. His footwork allows him to leverage his length in isolation, while his decision-making is advanced well beyond Hield’s for the time being.

Bogdanovic is a dynamic pick-and-roll threat as well. His size gives him an innate advantage when looking for distributive opportunities, while his soft touch and excellent floater game allows him to get off shots with limited space around the painted area.

He won’t be the point guard — and he’s at his best when functioning as a spot-up shooter on the perimeter — but the Serbian’s ability to create for others and initiate the offense is incredibly valuable for somebody who could develop into one of the more viable scoring threats in this year’s rookie class.

Down the stretch of games — and the season as a whole — isolation play becomes exponentially more important. Players who can function within the constraints of a team’s system while still creating for themselves when needed are highly valuable.

In terms of NBA-ready talent, Bogdanovic is likely the best in Sacramento’s rookie crop — without much debate. He’s a more polished asset than Fox, while his scoring repertoire remains a level above that of Justin Jackson.

Bogdanovic has a legitimate shot to be the Kings’ go-to offensive weapon in multiple different sets next season. They were obviously willing to pay extra to obtain his services, and adding an elite international prospect with a well-credentialed resume at the age of 24 is nothing to scoff at.

In a Rookie of the Year race that figures to be loaded with high-end talent, the Kings’ likelihood of having a legitimate frontrunner feels slim. If they do, however, don’t be surprised if it’s Bogdanovic, rather than Fox, whose name is at the forefront of those discussions.